North Korean ballistic missile, suspected to be Musudan, crashes after liftoff

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guides on the spot the underwater test-fire of strategic submarine ballistic missile in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on April 24, 2016Reuters

A midrange missile launched by North Korea on Thursday has crashed seconds after liftoff, South Korea's defence ministry officials have said.

According to the South Korean officials, it's likely the second time that Pyongyang has failed to successfully test its powerful midrange missile Musudan.

The missile has a key place in North's defence strategy and the regime aims to boost its capability to reach the US military bases in Asia and the Pacific, the official said, according to ABC News.